LazyLoad (vanilla-lazyload)

LazyLoad is a fast, lightweight and flexible script that speeds up your web application by loading your content images, videos and iframes only as they enter the viewport. It’s written in plain “vanilla” JavaScript, it leverages the IntersectionObserver API, it works with responsive images and it supports native lazy loading. See notable features for more.

➡️ Jump to: 👨‍💻 Getting started - HTML - 👩‍💻 Getting started - Script - 🥧 Recipes - 📺 Demos - 😋 Tips & tricks - 🔌 API - 😯 Notable features

👨‍💻 Getting started - HTML

In order to make your content be loaded by LazyLoad, you must use some data- attributes instead of the actual attributes. Examples below.

Lazy image:

<img alt="A lazy image" data-src="lazy.jpg">

Lazy image with low quality placeholder:

<img alt="A lazy image" src="lazy-lowQuality.jpg" data-src="lazy.jpg">

Lazy responsive image with `srcset` and `sizes`:

<img alt="A lazy image" class="lazy" 
    data-src="lazy.jpg" 
    data-srcset="lazy_400.jpg 400w, lazy_800.jpg 800w" 
    data-sizes="100w">

To have a low quality placeholder, add the src attribute pointing to a very small version of the image. E.g. src="lazy_10.jpg".

Lazy responsive image with hi-dpi support using the `picture` tag:

<picture>
    <source 
        media="(min-width: 1200px)" 
        data-srcset="lazy_1200.jpg 1x, lazy_2400.jpg 2x">
    <source 
        media="(min-width: 800px)" 
        data-srcset="lazy_800.jpg 1x, lazy_1600.jpg 2x">
    <img alt="A lazy image" class="lazy" 
        data-src="lazy.jpg">
</picture>

To have a low quality placeholder, add the src attribute pointing to a very small version of the image to the img tag. E.g. src="lazy_10.jpg".

Lazy responsive image with automatic WebP format selection, using the `picture` tag:

<picture>
    <source type="image/webp" 
        data-srcset="lazy_400.webp 400w, lazy_800.webp 800w" 
        data-sizes="100w">
    <img alt="A lazy image" class="lazy" 
        data-src="lazy.jpg" 
        data-srcset="lazy_400.jpg 400w, lazy_800.jpg 800w"
        data-sizes="100w">
</picture>

To have a low quality placeholder, add the src attribute pointing to a very small version of the image to the img tag. E.g. src="lazy_10.jpg".

Lazy background image

Single background

<div class="lazy" data-bg="url(lazy.jpg)"></div>

Multiple backgrounds

<div class="lazy" 
    data-bg="url(lazy-head.jpg), url(lazy-body.jpg), linear-gradient(#fff, #ccc)">
    ...
</div>

Notes:

you need to use url() in the value of your data-bg attribute, also for single background
you shouldn’t use background images to load content images, they’re bad for SEO and for accessibility
on background images, callback_loaded won’t be called and the class_loaded class won’t be added

Lazy video

<video class="lazy" controls width="620"
    data-src="lazy.mp4" poster="lazy.jpg">
    <source type="video/mp4" data-src="lazy.mp4">
    <source type="video/ogg" data-src="lazy.ogg">
    <source type="video/avi" data-src="lazy.avi">
</video>

Lazy iframe

<iframe class="lazy" data-src="lazyFrame.html" poster="lazy.jpg"></iframe>

👩‍💻 Getting started - Script

The latest, recommended version of LazyLoad is 12.3.0.

To polyfill or not to polyfill IntersectionObserver?

On browser NOT supporting IntersectionObserver such as Internet explorer and older versions of Safari you can choose whether or not to add a javascript polyfill for it.

If you don’t use a polyfill, LazyLoad will load all the images as soon as it’s downloaded and executed. The number of impacted users would be relatively small, so this is a completely acceptable choice.

If you prefer to load a polyfill, the regular LazyLoad behaviour is granted.

The simple, easiest way

The easiest way to use LazyLoad is to include the script from a CDN:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@12.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"></script>

Or, with the IntersectionObserver polyfill:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/intersection-observer@0.7.0/intersection-observer.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@12.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"></script>

Then, in your javascript code:

var lazyLoadInstance = new LazyLoad({
    elements_selector: ".lazy"
    // ... more custom settings?
});

To be sure that DOM for your lazy content is ready when you instantiate LazyLoad, place the script tag right before the closing </body> tag. If more DOM arrives later, e.g. via an AJAX call, you’ll need to call lazyLoadInstance.update(); to make LazyLoad check the DOM again.

lazyLoadInstance.update();

Include via RequireJS

You can use RequireJS to dynamically and asynchronously load modules in your website.

You can also find the original W3C’S IntersectionObserver Polyfill packed in AMD so you can require it conditionally, along with LazyLoad.

Include RequireJS:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/requirejs@2.3.6/bin/r.min.js"></script>

Then require the AMD version of LazyLoad, like this:

var lazyLoadAmdUrl = "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@12.3.0/dist/lazyload.amd.min.js";
var polyfillAmdUrl = "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/intersection-observer-amd@2.1.0/intersection-observer-amd.js";

/// Dynamically define the dependencies
var dependencies = [
    "IntersectionObserver" in window
        ? null // <- Doesn't require the polyfill
        : polyfillAmdUrl,
    lazyLoadAmdUrl
];

// Initialize LazyLoad inside the callback
require(dependencies, function(_, LazyLoad) {
    var lazyLoadInstance = new LazyLoad({
        elements_selector: ".lazy"
        // ... more custom settings?
    });
}

DEMO - SOURCE

Using an `async` script

If you prefer, it’s possible to include LazyLoad’s script using async script and initialize it as soon as it’s loaded.

To do so, you must define the options before including the script. You can pass:

{} an object to get a single instance of LazyLoad
[{}, {}] an array of objects to get multiple instances of LazyLoad, each one with different options.

<script>	
    // Set the options to make LazyLoad self-initialize	
    window.lazyLoadOptions = {	
        elements_selector: ".lazy",	
        // ... more custom settings?	
    };
</script>	

Then include the script.

<script async src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@12.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"></script>	

Possibly place the script tag right before the closing </body> tag. If you can’t do that, LazyLoad could be executed before the browser has loaded all the DOM, and you’ll need to call its update() method to make it check the DOM again.

Using an `async` script + getting the instance reference

Same as above, but you must put the addEventListener code shown below before including the async script.

<script>	
    // Set the options to make LazyLoad self-initialize	
    window.lazyLoadOptions = {	
        elements_selector: ".lazy",	
        // ... more custom settings?	
    };
    // Listen to the initialization event and get the instance of LazyLoad	
    window.addEventListener('LazyLoad::Initialized', function (event) {	
        window.lazyLoadInstance = event.detail.instance;	
    }, false);	
</script>	

Then include the script.

<script async src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vanilla-lazyload@12.3.0/dist/lazyload.min.js"></script>	

Now you’ll be able to call its methods, like:

lazyLoadInstance.update();

Note about Internet Explorer: because this technique uses a CustomEvent (learn more) to trigger the LazyLoad::Initialized event, you might want to add this micro polyfill to make it work on Internet Explorer.

<script>
// CustomEvent micro-polyfill for Internet Explorer
(function () {
    if (typeof window.CustomEvent === "function") {
        return false;
    }

    function CustomEvent(event, params) {
        params = params || {bubbles: false, cancelable: false, detail: undefined};
        var evt = document.createEvent("CustomEvent");
        evt.initCustomEvent (event, params.bubbles, params.cancelable, params.detail);
        return evt;
    }

    CustomEvent.prototype = window.Event.prototype;
    window.CustomEvent = CustomEvent;
})();
</script>

Local install

If you prefer to install LazyLoad locally in your project, you can!

Using npm

npm install vanilla-lazyload

Using bower

bower install vanilla-lazyload

Manual download

Download one the latest releases. The files you need are inside the dist folder. If you don’t know which one to pick, use lazyload.min.js, or read about bundles.

Local usage

Should you install LazyLoad locally, you can import it as ES module like the following:

import LazyLoad from "vanilla-lazyload";

It’s also possible (but unadvised) to use the require commonJS syntax.

More information about bundling LazyLoad with WebPack are available on this specific repo.

Usage with React

Take a look at this example of usage of React with LazyLoad on Sandbox.

This implementation takes the same props that you would normally pass to the img tag, but it renders a lazy image. Feel free to fork and improve it!

Bundles

Inside the dist folder you will find different bundles.

Filename	Module Type	Advantages
`lazyload.min.js`	UMD (Universal Module Definition)	Works pretty much everywhere, even in common-js contexts
`lazyload.iife.min.js`	IIFE (Immediately Invoked Function Expression)	Works as in-page `<script src="...">`, ~0.5kb smaller than UMD version
`lazyload.amd.min.js`	AMD (Asynchronous Module Definition)	Works with RequireJS module loader, ~0.5kb smaller than UMD version
`lazyload.esm.js`	ES Module	Exports `LazyLoad` so you can import it in your project both using `<script type="module" src="...">` and a bundler like WebPack or Rollup

🥧 Recipes

This is the section where you can find ready to copy & paste code for your convenience.

Dynamic content

💡 Use case: when you want to lazily load images, but the number of images change in the scrolling area changes, maybe because they are added asynchronously.

HTML

The HTML to use depends on your case, see other recipes’ HTML

Javascript

var myLazyLoad = new LazyLoad();
// After your content has changed...
myLazyLoad.update();

DEMO - SOURCE - API

Scrolling panel(s)

💡 Use case: when your scrolling container is not the main browser window, but a scrolling container.

HTML

<div class="scrollingPanel" id="scrollingPanel"> 
    <!-- Set of images -->
</div>

Javascript

var myLazyLoad = new LazyLoad({
    container: document.getElementById('scrollingPanel')
});

DEMO - SOURCE - API

If you have multiple scrolling panels, you can use the following markup and code.

HTML

<div id="scrollingPanel1" class="scrollingPanel">
    <!-- Set of images -->
</div>
<div id="scrollingPanel2" class="scrollingPanel">
    <!-- Set of images -->
</div>

Javascript

var myLazyLoad1 = new LazyLoad({
    container: document.getElementById('scrollingPanel1')
});
var myLazyLoad2 = new LazyLoad({
    container: document.getElementById('scrollingPanel2')
});

DEMO - SOURCE - API

Delay loading

💡 Use case: if a your scrolls fast over your images, you might wait a short time before the images start loading. This is how.

HTML

<img class="lazy" alt="A lazy image" 
     data-src="lazy.jpg"
     width="220" height="280">

Javascript

var myLazyLoad = new LazyLoad({
    elements_selector: ".lazy",
    load_delay: 300 //adjust according to use case
});

DEMO

SOURCE

API

Lazy LazyLoad

💡 Use case: when you have a lot of scrolling containers in the page and you want to instantiate a LazyLoad only on the ones that are in the viewport.

HTML

<div class="horzContainer">
    <img src="" alt="Row 01, col 01" data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_01_col_01&amp;w=200&amp;h=200">
    <img src="" alt="Row 01, col 02" data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_01_col_02&amp;w=200&amp;h=200">
    <!-- ... -->
</div>
<div class="horzContainer">
    <img src="" alt="Row 02, col 01" data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_02_col_01&amp;w=200&amp;h=200">
    <img src="" alt="Row 02, col 02" data-src="https://placeholdit.imgix.net/~text?txtsize=19&amp;txt=row_02_col_02&amp;w=200&amp;h=200">
    <!-- ... -->
</div>

Javascript

var lazyLoadInstances = [];
// The "lazyLazy" instance of lazyload is used (kinda improperly) 
// to check when the .horzContainer divs enter the viewport
var lazyLazy = new LazyLoad({
    elements_selector: ".horzContainer",
    // When the .horzContainer div enters the viewport...
    callback_enter: function(el) {
        // ...instantiate a new LazyLoad on it
        var oneLL = new LazyLoad({
            container: el
        });
        // Optionally push it in the lazyLoadInstances 
        // array to keep track of the instances
        lazyLoadInstances.push(oneLL);
    }
});

That’s it. Whenever a .horzContainer element enters the viewport, LazyLoad calls the callback_enter function, which creates a new instance of LazyLoad on the .horzContainer element.

DEMO - SOURCE - API

📺 Demos

Didn’t find the recipe that exactly matches your case? We have demos!

The demos folder contains 20+ use cases of LazyLoad. You might find there what you’re looking for.

Type	Title	Code	Live demo
Content	Simple lazy loaded images, not using any placeholder	Code	Live
Content	Lazy images that use an inline SVG as a placeholder	Code	Live
Content	Lazy images that use an external SVG file as a placeholder	Code	Live
Content	Lazy responsive images with `srcset`	Code	Live
Content	Lazy responsive images with the `<picture>` tag and the `media` attribute (art direction)	Code	Live
Content	Lazy responsive images with `srcset` and `sizes` (using `data-sizes`)	Code	Live
Content	Lazy responsive images with `srcset` and `sizes` (using plain `sizes`)	Code	Live
Content	Lazy video with multiple `<source>` tags	Code	Live
Content	Lazy loading background images	Code	Live
Content	Lazy WebP images with the `<picture>` tag and the `type` attribute for WebP	Code	Live
Loading	Asynchronous loading LazyLoad with requireJS	Code	Live
Loading	Asynchronous loading LazyLoad + InterserctionObserver with requireJS	Code	Live
Loading	Asynchronous loading LazyLoad with `<script async>`	Code	Live
Technique	Fade in images as they load	Code	Live
Technique	Lazily create lazyload instances	Code	Live
Technique	How to manage the print of a page with lazy images	Code	Live
Technique	A popup layer containing lazy images in a scrolling container	Code	Live
Settings	Multiple scrolling containers	Code	Live
Settings	Single scrolling container	Code	Live
Settings	Delay loading of lazy images	Code	Live
Methods	How to `destroy()` LazyLoad	Code	Live
Methods	Adding dynamic content, then `update()` LazyLoad	Code	Live
Methods	Adding dynamic content, then `update()` LazyLoad passing a NodeSet of elements	Code	Live
Methods	Load punctual images using the `load()` method	Code	Live
Methods	Load all images at once using `loadAll()`	Code	Live
Test	Test for multiple thresholds	Code	Live
Test	Test behaviour with hidden images	Code	Live
Test	Test of delay loading	Code	Live
Test	Test performance, lazy loading of hundreds of images	Code	Live
Native	Test the native lazy loading of images WITHOUT any line of javascript, not even this script	Code	Live
Native	Test the native lazy loading of images conditionally using the `use_native` option (see API)	Code	Live
(legacy)	Conditional loading of v.8 or v.10 (no IntersectionObserver polyfill)	Code	Live

😋 Tips & tricks

Occupy space and avoid content reflow

It’s a good idea to make sure that your lazy images occupy some space even before they are loaded, otherwise the img elements will be shrinked to zero-height, causing your layout to reflow and making lazyload inefficient.

There are many ways to avoid content reflow. I’ve tested three of them and found that the fastest is to avoid using a placeholder at all, and use the vertical padding trick.

Vertical padding trick

<div class="image-wrapper">
    <img class="lazy image" alt="An image" data-src="lazy.jpg">
</div>

.image-wrapper {
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 150%; /* You define this doing image height / width * 100% */
    position: relative;
}
.image {
    width: 100%;
    height: auto;
    position: absolute;
}

More info in Sizing Fluid Image Containers with a Little CSS Padding Hack by Andy Shora. Find also a useful SASS mixin to maintain aspect ratio on CSS tricks.

Inline SVG

If you can’t use the vertical padding trick for some reason, the best option is to use an SVG placeholder of the same ratio of the lazy images.

<img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 3 2'%3E%3C/svg%3E" 
    data-src="//picsum.photos/900/600" 
    alt="Lazy loading test image" />

Alternatively (but less efficiently) you can use a tiny, scaled-down version of your images as a placeholder, stretching them to the final size of the images, and obtain a blur-up effect when the full images load.

Using a placeholder image will also make sure that browsers don’t show your alt content instead of the images before the lazy-loading starts.

🔌 API

Constructor arguments

The new LazyLoad() instruction you execute on your page can take two parameters:

Parameter	What to pass	Required	Default value	Type
Options	The option object for this instance of LazyLoad	No	`{}`	Plain Object
Nodeset	A NodeSet of elements to execute LazyLoad on	No	`null`	NodeSet

The most common usage of LazyLoad constructor is to pass only the options object (see “options” in the next section). For example:

var aLazyLoad = new LazyLoad({ 
    /* options here */ 
});

In the rare cases where you can’t or don’t want to select the elements using elements_selector and you have a reference variable to your elements set (can be a NodeSet or an array of elements), you can pass the elements set as the second parameter.

var elementsToLazyLoad = getElementSetFromSomewhere();
var aLazyLoad = new LazyLoad({ 
    /* options here */ 
}, elementsToLazyLoad);

Options

For every instance of LazyLoad you can pass in some options, to alter its default behaviour. Here’s the list of the options.

Name	Meaning	Default value	Example value
`container`	The container of the elements in the `elements_selector` option.	`document`	`document.querySelector('.scrollPanel')`
`elements_selector`	The CSS selector of the elements to load lazily, which will be selected as descendants of the `container` object.	`"img"`	`".images img.lazy"`
`threshold`	A number of pixels representing the outer distance off the scrolling area from which to start loading the elements.	`300`	`0`
`thresholds`	Similar to `threshold`, but accepting multiple values and both `px` and `%` units. It maps directly to the `rootMargin` property of IntersectionObserver (read more), so it must be a string with a syntax similar to the CSS `margin` property. You can use it when you need to have different thresholds for the scrolling area. It overrides `threshold` when passed.	`null`	`"500px 10%"`
`data_src`	The name of the data attribute containing the original image source, excluding the `"data-"` part. E.g. if your data attribute is named `"data-src"`, just pass `"src"`	`"src"`	`"original"`
`data_srcset`	The name of the data attribute containing the original image source set in either `img` and `source` tags, excluding the `"data-"` part. E.g. if your data attribute is named `"data-srcset"`, just pass `"srcset"`	`"srcset"`	`"original-set"`
`data_sizes`	The name of the data attribute containing the sizes attribute to use, excluding the `"data-"` part. E.g. if your data attribute is named `"data-sizes"`, just pass `"sizes"`	`"sizes"`	`null`
`data_bg`	The name of the data attribute containing the value of `background-image` to load lazily, excluding the `"data-"` part. E.g. if your data attribute is named `"data-bg"`, just pass `"bg"`. The attribute value must be a valid value for `background-image`, including the `url()` part of the CSS instruction.	`"bg"`	`"url(img1.jpg), url(img2.jpg)"`
`class_loading`	The class applied to the elements while the loading is in progress.	`"loading"`	`"lazy-loading"`
`class_loaded`	The class applied to the elements when the loading is complete.	`"loaded"`	`"lazy-loaded"`
`class_error`	The class applied to the elements when the element causes an error.	`"error"`	`"lazy-error"`
`load_delay`	The time (in milliseconds) each image needs to stay inside the viewport before its loading begins.	`0`	`300`
`auto_unobserve`	A boolean that defines whether or not to automatically unobserve elements that was already revealed	`true`	`false`
`callback_enter`	A callback function which is called whenever an element enters the viewport. Arguments: DOM element, intersection observer entry, lazyload instance.	`null`	`(el)=>{console.log("Entered", el)}`
`callback_exit`	A callback function which is called whenever an element exits the viewport. Arguments: DOM element, intersection observer entry, lazyload instance.	`null`	`(el)=>{console.log("Exited", el)}`
`callback_reveal`	A callback function which is called whenever an element starts loading. Arguments: DOM element, lazyload instance.	`null`	`(el)=>{console.log("Loading", el)}`
`callback_set`	Deprecated from version 11 → It still works, but please update your code to use `callback_reveal` instead.	`null`	`(el)=>{console.log("Loading", el)}`
`callback_loaded`	A callback function which is called whenever an element finishes loading. Note that, in version older than 11.0.0, this option went under the name `callback_load`. Arguments: DOM element, lazyload instance.	`null`	`(el)=>{console.log("Loaded", el)}`
`callback_error`	A callback function which is called whenever an element triggers an error. Arguments: DOM element, lazyload instance.	`null`	`(el)=>{console.log("Error", el)}`
`callback_finish`	A callback function which is called when there are no more elements to load and all elements have been downloaded. Arguments: lazyload instance.	`null`	`()=>{console.log("Finish")}`
`use_native`	This boolean sets whether or not to use native lazy loading. On browsers that supports it, LazyLoad will set the `loading="lazy"` attribute on images and iframes, and delegate their loading to the browser.	`false`	`true`

Methods

You can call the following public methods on any instance of LazyLoad.

Method name	Effect
`update()`	Make LazyLoad to check for new lazy images in the container, using the `elements_selector` option.
`loadAll()`	Loads all the lazy images right away, no matter if they are inside or outside the viewport.
`load(element, force)`	Immediately loads any lazy `element`, even if it isn’t selectable by the `elements_selector` option. Note that this method works only once on a specific `element`, unless you force it passing `true` as the second parameter.
`destroy()`	Destroys the instance, unsetting instance variables and removing listeners.

😯 Notable features

It works with your favourite library or framework

As LazyLoad doesn’t rely on jQuery, you can use it in web applications using Angular, React or Vue.js without the need to include jQuery.

Intersection Observer API for optimized CPU usage

Instead of listening to the scroll and resize events, LazyLoad uses the Intersection Observer API which is a new, blazing fast method to detect if an element is inside the browser viewport. Your users will see the difference in slow and even in fast devices or computers.

Support for responsive images

LazyLoad supports responsive images, both via the srcset & sizes attributes and via the picture tag.

SEO friendly

LazyLoad doesn’t hide your images from search engines, even if you don’t specify any initial src for your image.

Flaky connections supported

Starting from version 12.2, if your users lose the internet connection causing errors on images loading, this script tries and loads those images again when the connection is restored.

Tested on real browsers

Legacy browsers support is from IE 9 up. This script is tested in every browser before every release using BrowserStack live, thanks to the BrowserStack Open Source initiative.

👨‍💻 Getting started - HTML

Lazy image:

Lazy image with low quality placeholder:

Lazy responsive image with srcset and sizes:

Lazy responsive image with hi-dpi support using the picture tag:

Lazy responsive image with automatic WebP format selection, using the picture tag:

Lazy background image

Lazy video

Lazy iframe

👩‍💻 Getting started - Script

To polyfill or not to polyfill IntersectionObserver?

The simple, easiest way

Include via RequireJS

Using an async script

Using an async script + getting the instance reference

Local install

Using npm

Using bower

Manual download

Local usage

Usage with React

Bundles

🥧 Recipes

Dynamic content

Scrolling panel(s)

Delay loading

Lazy LazyLoad

📺 Demos

😋 Tips & tricks

Occupy space and avoid content reflow

Vertical padding trick

Inline SVG

🔌 API

Constructor arguments

Options

Methods

😯 Notable features

It works with your favourite library or framework

Intersection Observer API for optimized CPU usage

Support for responsive images

SEO friendly

Flaky connections supported

Tested on real browsers

Lazy responsive image with `srcset` and `sizes`:

Lazy responsive image with hi-dpi support using the `picture` tag:

Lazy responsive image with automatic WebP format selection, using the `picture` tag:

Using an `async` script

Using an `async` script + getting the instance reference